Lady Dorothy Macmillan
Encyclopedia
Lady Dorothy Evelyn Macmillan GBE
(28 July 1900 – 21 May 1966) was a daughter of the 9th Duke
and Duchess of Devonshire
and the wife of the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
.
, Lancashire
, and Lismore Castle
, Ireland
. She became known as Lady Dorothy from 1908, when her father succeeded to the dukedom
, and the family moved into Chatsworth House
, Derbyshire
, and the other ducal estates. She received lessons in French, German, riding and golf. From the age of sixteen she lived with the family at Rideau Hall
, Ottawa
, where her father served as Governor General of Canada
.
In 1920 she married the publisher and Conservative
politician Harold Macmillan
, who had been on her father's staff in Canada
. Their lavish wedding, on 21 April at St. Margaret's, Westminster
, was attended by royalty, aristocracy and leading literary figures, and was hailed as the social event of the London season.
Lady Dorothy was a dutiful political wife and the couple remained together (despite her long-lasting affair with the Conservative
politician Robert Boothby) until her death from a heart attack
at the Macmillan family estate at Birch Grove, East Sussex
, in 1966. Her husband outlived her by 20 years.
She and Harold had four children:
had a heart attack and was attended by suspected serial killer
John Bodkin Adams
. He died. Adams was put on trial for murder in 1957 and the prosecution of the case has been described as half-hearted. The link with Edward Cavendish especially was not pursued, it has been suggested, because the government did not want to attract attention to Lady Dorothy's private life, and specifically her affair with Boothby.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(28 July 1900 – 21 May 1966) was a daughter of the 9th Duke
Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire , known as Victor Cavendish until 1908, was a British politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 11th since Canadian Confederation....
and Duchess of Devonshire
Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire was born Lady Evelyn Emily Mary FitzMaurice, the daughter of the 5th Marquess of Lansdowne and his wife, Maud....
and the wife of the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
.
Family life
Born Dorothy Evelyn Cavendish, she spent her first eight years at Holker HallHolker Hall
Holker Hall is a country house with a celebrated garden situated on the Cartmel Peninsula, which was historically part of the county of Lancashire, but is now part of the county of Cumbria....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and Lismore Castle
Lismore Castle
Lismore Castle is located in the town of Lismore, in County Waterford in Ireland. It was largely re-built in the Gothic style during the mid-nineteenth century by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire.-Early history:...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She became known as Lady Dorothy from 1908, when her father succeeded to the dukedom
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
, and the family moved into Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and the other ducal estates. She received lessons in French, German, riding and golf. From the age of sixteen she lived with the family at Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, where her father served as Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
In 1920 she married the publisher and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, who had been on her father's staff in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Their lavish wedding, on 21 April at St. Margaret's, Westminster
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
, was attended by royalty, aristocracy and leading literary figures, and was hailed as the social event of the London season.
Lady Dorothy was a dutiful political wife and the couple remained together (despite her long-lasting affair with the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Robert Boothby) until her death from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the Macmillan family estate at Birch Grove, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, in 1966. Her husband outlived her by 20 years.
She and Harold had four children:
- 1) Maurice Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden (1921–1984), a ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and publisher. Married The Honourable Katharine Ormsby-GoreKatharine Macmillan, Viscountess Macmillan of OvendenKatharine Macmillan, Viscountess Macmillan of Ovenden, DBE is the daughter of the 4th Baron Harlech and granddaughter of the 4th Marquess of Salisbury....
, a daughter of the 4th Baron HarlechBaron HarlechBaron Harlech, of Harlech in the County of Merioneth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1876 for the Conservative politician John Ormsby-Gore, with remainder to his younger brother William. He had previously represented Carnarvon and North Shropshire in the House of...
. - 2) Lady Caroline MacmillanLady Caroline FaberLady Ann Caroline Macmillan is the daughter of Harold Macmillan and his wife Lady Dorothy Cavendish. She is the second of their four children, and since the death of her younger sister in 1991, she has been their only surviving child....
(born 1923). Married Julian FaberJulian FaberJulian Tufnell Faber was a leading figure in the insurance business.-Early life:He was educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge. He served with the Welsh Guards during the Second World War.-Career:...
; five children. - 3) Lady Catherine Macmillan (1926–1991). Married Julian Amery, later Baron Amery of Lustleigh, a ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician; four children. - 4) Sarah Macmillan (1930–1970). She had an unhappy life, which was blighted by a drinking problem.
Brother
On 26 November 1950, her brother Edward Cavendish, the 10th Duke of DevonshireEdward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire
Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire, KG, MBE, TD , known as Marquess of Hartington , was the head of the Devonshire branch of the Cavendish family...
had a heart attack and was attended by suspected serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
. He died. Adams was put on trial for murder in 1957 and the prosecution of the case has been described as half-hearted. The link with Edward Cavendish especially was not pursued, it has been suggested, because the government did not want to attract attention to Lady Dorothy's private life, and specifically her affair with Boothby.
Ancestry
Sources
- Burke's Peerage
- Debrett's Peerage
- http://www.thepeerage.com
- http://www.worldroots.com